About Michael Smayda
Michael Smayda is CEO and director at Fortastra.
Form D filings also name Michael Smayda as an executive officer at Hermeus.
Michael Smayda first appears on SEC filings in 2020.
Experience
This experience comes from Michael Smayda's profile and from SEC filings. For roles taken from filings, the years are when the filings name Michael Smayda in the role, so the role may have started earlier or lasted longer.
Fortastra Corp Current
CEO, Founder (2025 – Present)
Director
2025 – Present · Torrance, CA
Fortastra builds spacecraft to protect government and commercial assets in orbit.
Hermeus Corp Current
Consultant/Advisor
2018 – Present · Atlanta, GA
Develops high-speed aircraft for military use.
GI
Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc.
Director of Systems Engineering
2017 – 2018
SP
SpaceX
Sr. Aerodynamics Engineer
2012 – 2017
UV
University of Virginia
Graduate Research Assistant
2008 – 2012
AT
Alliant Techsystems
Test Engineer
2011
Key Colleagues at Startups
The people Michael Smayda works with at each company, as listed on that company's latest Form D.
Fortastra Corp · Form D, Oct 8, 2026
NK
Nick Kim
Director
AK
Arthur Karell
Director
Hermeus Corp · Form D, Aug 27, 2024
EI
Erle Case IV
Executive officer
Anthony Piplica
Executive Chairman
SS
Skyler Shuford
Executive officer and director
William Roper
Director
RB
Richard Boyle
Director
SS
Sven Strohband
Director